Tape backing stripper



Nov. 26, 1963 TRIPPLER 3,111,872

' TAPE BACKING STRIPPER Filed July 5, 1961 INVENTOR. 07-7-0 fi 7k/PPLER United States Patent fornia Filed July 5, 1961, Ser. No. 122,006 2 Claims. (Cl. 83-4) This invention relates to a device for stripping the protective or backing strip from pressure sensitive adhesive tape as employed for example in the manufacture of embossed labels and the like.

,Various devices have been developed to facilitate the ready manufacture of embossed labels from plastic tape or the like. Commonly the tape is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive to facilitate sticking of a finished label to an item to be marked therewith. The adhesive, however, is covered with a protective or backing strip of, for example, polyethylene in order to prevent the adhesive from sticking during manufacture of the label in the embossing device and subsequent handling of the label prior to use. The protective strip is of course rather difficult to remove when it is desired to ready the label for use.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for stripping the protective strip from pressure sensitive adhesive tape.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the class described that is readily adjustable to accommodate tapes having protective strips of dilferent thicknesses.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invetnion which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stripping device for facilitating the ready removal of the protective strip from pressure sensitive adhesive tape.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken at line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of the stripping device.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the stripping device.

Referring now to the drawing, the stripping device of the present invention is seen to generally comprise a stripping blade and means mounting the blade upon supporting base structure with the edge of the blade spaced from the base structure by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the protective strip of pressure sensitive adhesive tape. Thus by placing the tape with its protective strip resting upon the base structure and sliding the tape endwise into engagement with the blade, the blade edge parts the tape between the protective strip and pressure sensitive adhesive. With a corner of the protective strip thus stripped from the pressure sensitive adhesive, such corner may be readily grasped to facilitate stripping of the entire strip therefrom.

Considering now the stripper in greater detail as to its preferred construction and referring particularly to FIG- URES l to 3, there is provided supporting base structure which may include a flat generally rectangular base 11. A right angular U-shaped blade supporting block 12 is positioned atop the base adjacent one end thereof, the outer peripheral edges of the block being coextensive with the side and end edges of the base. The inner peripheral edges of the block define a relief 13 in its upper surface.

3,111,872 Patented Nov. 26, 1963 An elongated generally rectangular blade 14 is positioned atop the block 12 transversely across the relief 13 in bridging relation to the side legs of the block. The blade is chamfered along its leading edge to a fine cut ting edge 16 which is closely spaced from the leading edge of relief 13 in a manner considered in detail hereinafter. The sides of the blade are formed with slots 17, 18 terminating at its trailing edge.

In order to rigidly secure the blade 14 upon the block 12, a pressure foot 19 is attached to the block in bridging relation to its side legs with the blade being thereby clamped between the foot and block. The block is of transversely elongated rectangular configuration with a width slightly less than that of the blade. The leading edge of the foot is provided with a central inclined groove 20, the width of which is substantially equal to that of pressure sensitive adhesive tape. The groove extends smoothly upward from the bottom to the top surface of the foot thus defining a tape guide channel.

Transversely spaced bores 21 are provided adjacent the side edges of the foot, such bores registering with coextensive bores 22 through the side legs of block 12 and tapped bores 23 in the base 11. A pair of screws 24 inserted through the registering sets of bores 21, 22 and threadably engaging the tapped bores 23 thus secure the elements of the stripper together. It is of importance to note that the screws bypass the blade by extending through the slots 17, 18. Hence the blade is in no way secured to the screws, the securance of the blade being facilitated entirely by a clamping action between the foot and block. It will be appreciated that minute changes in the height of the leading edge 16 of the blade from the top surface of the block 12 may be effected by loosening or tightening the screws. Hence the blade height may be readily adjusted equal to the thickness of the pro tective strip of pressure sensitive adhesive tape. Moreover, upon loosening the screws the blade may be translated towards or away from the leading edge 18 of relief 13 to provide any desired spacing between such edge and the blade cutting edge prior to tightening the foot. This spacing is advantageously set substantially equal to the protective strip thickness.

With the blade 14 appropriately positioned with re spect to the block '12, the device may be employed to strip the protective strip 26 from the pressure sensitive adhesive 27 of tape 28 as shown in FIGURE 2. More specifically, the tape 28 with strip 26 downward is placed upon the leading surface portion of block 12. The tape is then moved endwise towards the cutting edge 16 of the blade, the tape being aligned with the inclined groove 20 in the foot. Movement of the tape is continued through the groove, as by means of urging the tape over the surface of the block and through the groove with the thumb, the blade parting the protective strip 26 and pressure sensitive adhesive 27 along the end edge of the tape during such movement. This is by virtue of the spacing of the cutting edge of the blade from the block. The end of the protective strip 26 then tends to enter the relief 13 while the end of the adhesive 27 extends upwardly into groove 20. With the end edge of the protective strip 26 thus parted from the pressure sensitive adhesive 27, such end edge may be readily grasped and pulled away from the adhesive to remove all of the strip therefrom.

Various modifications may be made to the specific embodiment described hereinbefore without departing from the broad concept of the invention, and in this connection reference may be had to FIGURE 4 wherein an alternative embodiment is depicted. In this embodiment a rectangular base 29 is provided with a tongue 3-1 projecting from one end edge. A support element 32 in the form of a thin strip conformed to the tongue and end region of the base is superposed thereon. As in the case of support block 12 of the previous embodiment, support element 32 is provided with a central rectangular notch 33 in its distal edge relative to the tongue in order to define a relief. The end edges of the support element on either side of the notch 33 are upwardly turned at right angles to the plane of the element to define flanges 34. In addition, the side edges of the element in the region of the tongue are upwardly flared as indicated at 36 to define a tape guide channel therebetween. More particularly, the spacing between the upwardly turned edges 36 is substantially equal the width of pressure sensitive adhesive tape.

Positioned atop the support element 32 there is provided a rectangular foot 37 in transverse bridging relation to the notch 33 and in end abutment with flanges 34. The entire leading edge of the foot is inclined as shown at 38. The foot 37 serves to clamp a blade 39 to the support element 32 in similar fashion as the foot 19 of the previous embodiment. The blade bridges the notch 33 but is of a transverse length sufficiently shorter than the width of the support element that the side edges of the blade are inwardly laterally spaced from those of the support element. The blade has a sharpened cutting edge 4-1 which bridges the notch closely adjacent the leading edge thereof.

To facilitate securanee of the various elements of the stripping device of FIGURE 4 together a pair of screws 42 are inserted through the foot 37 and mounting element 32 adjacent their side edges and threadably engaged in the base 29. The screws bypass the side edges of blade 39 such that seeurance of the blade is accomplished purely by the clamping action of the foot against the support element. Hence positioning of the blade with respect to the support element is readily adjustable to a height equal to the thickness of the protective strip of pressure sensitive adhesive tape. Such tape may be introduced to the blade through the guide channel defined between edges 36- to strip the protective strip therefrom.

What is claimed is:

1, A tape stripping device comprising a base member, a support block disposed upon said base member and being of right angular U configuration in plan with the inner edges of the support block thereby defining a rectangular relief, a blade disposed upon said block in transverse bridging relation to said relief with the cutting edge of the blade spaced from but adjacent the leading edge of the relief, said blade having a narrow portion opposite to said cutting edge, a pressure foot disposed in overlying relation to said blade and transversely bridging said relief, said foot having an inclined groove in its edge adjacent the cutting edge of the blade, said groove having a width substantially equal that of pressure sensitive adhesive tape, and a pair of screws extending through said foot and block adjacent their side edges and threadably engaging said base member, said screws being disposed adjacent said narrow portion of the blade whereby said blade is releasably and adjustably clamped between said block and said pressure foot for selective variations in spacing between said cutting edge and said leading edge of the relief.

2. A device of the character described comprising a member having a flat upper surface, means defining an opening extending downwardly from said surface, a stripping blade disposed on said surface and overlying said opening, said blade having a cutting edge spaced upwardly from said surface and in parallel spaced relation to the leading edge of said opening, an element overlying said blade and having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined guide channel having the leading edge portion thereof in rearwardly spaced adjacent relation to said blade edge, and means releasably securing said member and element together for releasably clamping said blade therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 850,546 Schuyler Apr. 16, 1907 1,158,433 Black Nov. 2, 1915 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,792 Great Britain Oct. 29, 1898 

1. A TAPE STRIPPING DEVICE COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER, A SUPPORT BLOCK DISPOSED UPON SAID BASE MEMBER AND BEING OF RIGHT ANGULAR U CONFIGURATION IN PLAN WITH THE INNER EDGES OF THE SUPPORT BLOCK THEREBY DEFINING A RECTANGULAR RELIEF, A BLADE DISPOSED UPON SAID BLOCK IN TRANSVERSE BRIDGING RELATION TO SAID RELIEF WITH THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE BLADE SPACED FROM BUT ADJACENT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE RELIEF, SAID BLADE HAVING A NARROW PORTION OPPOSITE TO SAID CUTTING EDGE, A PRESSURE FOOT DISPOSED IN OVERLYING RELATION TO SAID BLADE AND TRANSVERSELY BRIDGING SAID RELIEF, SAID FOOT HAVING AN INCLINED GROOVE IN ITS EDGE 